The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has downplayed efforts by opposition parties to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the move as impracticable.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Basiru, reacting to the outcome of the Ibadan summit, reportedly attended by representatives of 10 political parties, dismissed the gathering as inconsequential.
He described it as “fanfare” by “disgruntled politicians,” adding that it did not qualify as a legitimate meeting of political parties.
“The so-called Ibadan summit is a ruse. It was an assemblage of individuals, not ten political parties,” he said.
The APC scribe argued that the meeting lacked legal and structural backing, insisting that no recognised political party can convene without approval from its leadership organs.
“For parties to meet, there must be prior authorisation from their NWC or NEC. Without that, it is simply a gathering of individuals,” Basiru stated.
Basiru also pointed to ongoing leadership disputes within major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, questioning the legitimacy of participants at the meeting.
“The leadership of the PDP is still being contested, with matters pending before the Supreme Court… On what authority are they meeting?” he queried.
He further described the opposition’s coalition plan as contradictory, noting that the same actors had previously warned of a one-party state under the APC.
“If they now claim that ten political parties met to gang up against one party, it contradicts their earlier narrative… it shows that the political space remains open, but they lack the strength to compete individually,” he said.
Basiru added that the coalition idea amounted to “an admission of weakness,” stressing that electoral laws recognise only individual political parties that must field their own candidates.
No Threat To APC – Basiru
Dismissing fears of a formidable alliance against the ruling party, Basiru expressed confidence that the opposition would struggle to stay united.
“I do not see any viable coalition. What I see are individuals driven by personal ambitions. They will soon begin to disagree among themselves,” he added.
The APC chieftain also criticised remarks attributed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, referencing “Operation Wet e,” describing them as irresponsible.
“It is irresponsible for a sitting governor to make statements that could be interpreted as inciting… such references are unnecessary in today’s political environment,” he said.
Basiru urged opposition figures to focus on presenting viable alternatives rather than forming alliances he described as ineffective.
“They should focus on presenting credible candidates rather than making statements borne out of frustration,” he said.